Camps up to 3500 m, easy way back. Less than 10 km/day, no river crossing, no dangerous parts.
It is an easy trek leading straight to the feet of Rakaposhi (7790) and Diran (7250m). This is the favourite trek of backpackers, who go by hundreds. Unfortunately, it begins to suffer from its success.
Easy, it may even be in one the day for those very motivated. The road that should be completed in 2008 will go up Hapakun, allowing access to jeeps and reducing the journey.
Guides and porters: For a guide count from 1000 to 1200 rps / day not including tips or wapasi. For porters, 300 rps / stage without meals (up to you to doshopping for your porter), 350 rps including meals; there are 4 stages from Minapin. Go there: From Aliabad. Vans leave at 11am for Minapin. Otherwise, take a bus or a van leaving for Gilgit, stop at the intersection of Minapin, 500 m after the bridge and walk the 4 kilometres to the village.
To sleep: The advantage of this trek is that we can sleep all along the way in camps where there are tents for rent. Minapin, Hapakun, Tagaphari.
Small swindles and malicious profits
A trek victim of its success, it is a route that takes you for an ATM! In Minapin, the guesthouse is one example. Of course they offer basic room at 1000 rps night, when there are a lot cheaper… they apparently disappear in the eyes of some tourists, fortunately in 2007 the quality of food was good. In Hapakun, there were nice and didn’t get too much excited on prices. We had very negative feedbacks from Tagaphari, count 50 rps for a “welcome” cup of tea, you have the surprise to pay when you leave. It should get worse with the arrival of the road. Minapin, is a conservative village. During the journey you can see "Down with USA…"; there is better to welcome visitors. Avoid to take photos of the women, dress properly and everything should go fine.
1, 2 or 3 days?
This route is easy, it is possible to organize it as you wish. It takes a day for the fastest, and up to three days for those who want to fully enjoy the place. We took two days sleeping in Hapakun.
From April to November. The tents are installed for the summer season.
Shopping : Karimabad, Aliabad, Gilgit.
Day 1
Minapin - Hapakun Departure: 2000 m Arrival: 2850 m -0 m + 850 m Distance: 7 km Length: 3 to 5 hours
In Minapin, several possibilities, the thing is to cross the village to go to the valley slightly to the right. From there it's easy. Follow the unsealed road for about 500 metres up to a bridge and cross it. The following part is steep and gets very hot (summer time, leave early). 45 minutes later, we reach a flatter and more pleasant part. Diran Peak is visible in the distance. The slope is steady, with some streams crossing. On the right, a beautiful waterfall, this is not the way, continue on the left up to the end of the valley. There is a final steep slope before reaching Hapakun, a beautiful camp in the middle of meadows. In 2007, early June, we paid 200 rps for a tent and 100/rps per meal.
Water : Right in the camp, a nice spring.
Day 2
Hapakun - Tagaphari Departure: 2850 m Arrival: 3350 m -20 m + 530 m Distance: 4 km Length: 1h30 to 3 hours
Exit Hapakun on the right, a well marked path which goes in the woods 150m above, the departure is not too obvious to find. Another solution, go straight up into the thalweg; where the slope gets steeper climb 500 m before crossing the trail.
The ascent is steep, 1h30 2h later, it leads to the ridge, the view is startling. You can see Rakaposhi on the right, Diran in front of you and at its foot, a glacier with titanic proportions. Turn right and follow the trail which becomes a little more exposed in some places. Tagaphari is on the lateral moraine banks, in the middle of meadows. Remember, the tourist here is a prey of choice.
Water : A stream in the camp.
Day 3
Tagaphari - Minapin Departure: 3350m Arrival: 2000 m -1380 m + 20 m Distance: 11 km
Go back the same way.
Tagaphari – Camp de base du Diran Jour 1 & 2
Departure: 3350 m Arrival: 3600 m -? m +? m Distance return: 8 km Length: 6 to 8 hours / 1 to 2 days.
Exit Tagaphari continuing along the lateral moraine. Enter the glacier shortly after, on a path marked by cairns. The glacier is not technical but it is long and it is easy to get lost. On the other side, on the right, a well marked meadow is Diran Base Cam. Possible to camp.
Water : In the camp, a spring.
WARNING Treks described in this rubric have all been walked by the author, itineraries are detailed daily, maps and pictures illustrate them. On no account these sheets will replace the experience of a local guide; they are complementary and should be taken as such! Never go alone, without warning anybody! The course of some trails might change from one year to another, landslides, mud slides are numerous enough.
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